Window-washing machine



Octe 9 v W. A. PIERSQN WINDOW WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan, 1G 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet l W. A'. PXERSQN WIINDOW WASHING MACHINE @am M w24.

W. A. FIEHESCQN wlNDow WASHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet. i5

@sa M, gzs. 35311,363

W. A. PERSON WINDOW WSHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 14, 1924.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM A. PIERSON, OF SARATOG'A SPRINGS, NEW YORK.

WINDOW-WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed January 16, 1923.

To all-whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. PIERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at ISaratoga Springs, in the county of Saratoga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVindow-lllashing Machines; hereby declare the following to be a full, clear.y and exact description of the invention7 such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a window washing machine.

It is aimed to provide a novel7 durable and light Weight construction in which maximum relative movement and adjustment with respect to a window is permissible and which is capable of manufacture at minimum cost.

Another object is to provide in such a machine, a brushv or cleaner movable both horizont-ally and vertically over the window pane by means consisting essentially of a screw rod and nut, and a spring wound by the rod when turned in one direction so as yto reversely rotate it and move the cleaner in the opposite direction when the rod is released.`

It is further aimed to provide a novel form of brush or cleaner and actuating means and detachable mounting therefor.

Still another object is to provide in such a machine, a basel movable by novel means in a horizontal pla-ne in a plurality of paths at an angle to each other.

One more object is to provide a machine of this character with an attaching plate to engage a window-sill or the like in order to operatively and efhciently support the operating parts. y

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating one operative embodiment.

1n said drawings za Figure 'l is a front elevation of the improved machine;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof and looking toward the left in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line of Figure 2;

Figure il is a cross sectional view on the line of Figure 3;

Fgure is a fragmentary vertical secand I do.

Serial No. 612,962.

illustrating the mounting of the driving gea-r for the brush actuating shaft;

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the brush or cleaner alone;

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of such cleaner or brush, and

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 8.

Like reference characters designate like or similar parts in the different views.

The operating parts are mounted on an attaching plate 10 of suitable size and shape which may detachably rest on a window-sill or other support. It may be secured to such sill by means of clamps as at 11 consisting of angle arms 12 -adjustably carrying clamp screws 13. A hook 11a loosely passes through plate 10 and at its free end may clamp to a window sill by manipulation of a nut 11b. Said base may also have one or more leveling screws 14 threaded thereto and adapted to engage the sill from. above whereby such base may be effectively positioned.

A bed plate 15 is mounted onthe attaching plate 10 for sliding movement in a direction transversely of the window sill and may be secured and guided by means of dove-tailed ribs 16 integral with the plate 10 yand disposed in similarly shaped grooves 17 undercut in bed plate 15.

Slidable on the bed plate 15 in a direction longitudinally of the window sill, is a carriage 1S. This carriage has la base 19 which may be cut away as at 2O` for the sake of lightness. Rails 21 rise upwardly and integrally from the bed plate 15 at the longitudinal edges and are 'provided in their inner surfaces with track grooves 22. Studs23, of any suitable number7 extend integrally from, the base 19 and are slidably disposed in grooves 22. Said grooves 22 as at 211 may be closed at one end of the machine.

Bed plate 15 adjacent the rails 21 is raised or thickened as at 25 and provided with gear or rack teeth 26 over and slightly above which base 19 moves. Spur gear wheels 27 mesh with the teeth 26 and are rigid on a shaft 28 suitably journaled in extensions 29 integral with base 19. A manipulating knob or wheel 30 may be pre1 vided on shaft 28 and located at Vthe front of theI machine for manual engagement and manipulation.

Integral with the base 19 and rising therefrom integrally and at its rear is a standard 31, reinforced by meansI of aweb 32 integral with it and the base. For strengthening purposes, said standard is preferably Widest at its base and tapers upwardly and inwardly therefrom. At its upper end, standard 31` extends forwardly and terminates in .a cross head 32 integral therewith.

ySaid cross head 32, at 33, is centrally enlarged in order to form a bearing in which a brush-actuating shaft 34 is journaled and the vlower .end of which shaft is journaled as in a bearing 35 provided on the base 19. Rigid on shaft 34 is a gear wheel 35 .with which a driving gear wheel 36 is adapted to mesh. An operating shaft 37 is provided for said gear wheel 36 and it maybe turned through manual manipulation 4of a `crank 38 located at the front of the machine and adjacent to the` knob 30. Shaft 37 may be `journaled in one or more bearings 39 provided on the base 19. Gear wheel 36 has an elongated tubular hub 40 which is slidably mounted on the shaft 37 but to turn therewith. in view of the provision of a key or spline 41 on shaft 37 located within a groove 42 of said hub 40. About hub 40 and in a Groove 42 thereof, is a ring or collar 43. aid gear wheel 36 is adapted t0 be slid into and out of engagement with the gear wheel 35 at times as willA be later explained and to this end a lever 44 is pivoted at 45 to the base 19 and has an elongated slot 46 into which apin 47 on the collar 43 entends. The other end of lever 44 is pivoted as at 48 to a link 49 which is pivoted at 50 to a relatively large operating lever 51 whose free end is accessible from the front of the machine. Lever 51 is pivoted as by means of a pin 52 to a post 53 integral with and rising from attaching plate 10. The slot of lever 51 which receives pin 52 is preferably elongated as indicated at 54. Said lever 51 between its fulcrum and its lower end may rest on yone of the rails 21 for support. Movement of the gear wheel 36 away from the gear wheel 35 is limited as by a pin or stop at 55. Shaft 37 cannotslide in bearings 39 collars 56 preclude such movement. Shaft 34 is adapted to actuate a suitable brush, cleaner or the like which may be of the construction detailed in Figures 7, 8 and 9. This brush is generally designated A and may have a brush proper or brush head at 58 and a carrying bracket therefor at 59. Bracket 59 has a rearwardly extending flange 60 integral therewith7 which braces it and which rigidly mounts a nut 61 or is otherwise provided with screw threads in mesh with the thread or groove of the actuating sha-ft 34. Verticall guide rods 52 have their ends anchored in the cross head 32and =the base 19 and extend loosely through openings 62 in said flange 60. Bracket 59 has a forwardly offset wall 63. ilall 63 is provided with a dove tailed channel-or recess at 64. l

The brush head 58 may be of any suit-able construction. It preferably has a back or body 65 having a water reservoir 66 closed for the most part Vby a plate 67 secured to the yback 65 in any appropriate manner and through which, at the top, a row of outlet openings or jets 68 lare provided. Said back 65 has a dovetailed rib 69 -which is remov.-

ably slidable into and out of the recess 64.

One or more small tubes 70 are rigidly attached to and extend rearwardly from the wall 63. .Slidably disposed in said tubes 70 lare nipples 71 which carry tapered gaskets 72 at their forward ends to eng-age seats 73 in the back 65 in a water tight manner. Wall 63 has openings 74 in linewith the tubes 70 to accommodate movement `of the gaskets 72 and the back 65 has openings kat 75 whereby communication through the nipples is hadwith reservoir 466. The nipples -are normally in the position shown in Figure 9 where they will prevent lateral sliding and detaching movement of the brush head. The 'nipples are urged into vthe last mentioned position by means of expansive coil springs76 surrounding nipples 7.1, located in tubes 70. engaging flanges 77 of said tubes at one end and flanges 78 on the nipples at the other end. Branches 79 of a Vflexible tube 80 are adapted for separable connection with the nipples 71 as at attaching head 80 thereof and as shown in Figure 9. The work face ofthe brush 58 may be of -any suitable construction. As shown it consists of a rubber sheet 81 fastened in any approved manner over the back 65 and plate 67, having integral, staggered longitudinally disposed vanes 82 and above the same having ports 83 registering with the openings or ports 68 in order to lead water supplied through tube or pipe 80 to the window pane or article being cleansed.

Water` or cleaning medium may be suy plied from any suitable source through the pipe 80. In the present instance, a water supply tank 84 is secured by straps 85 to the cross head 32. This tank is adapted to be roo lilled ythrough an opening normally closed by a removable cap or plug 86 and has an outlet cock 87 to which the pipe 80 is attached. The cock 87 may have a cut-olf valve as at 88.

Shaft 34 is hollow and within the same a coil spring 89 is longitudinally disposed. One end of said spring 89 as at 90 is rigidly connected to the shaft 34 andy at its other end at 90a is rigidly connected to the bearing 33 or otherwise to the cross head. The brush A is normally at the upward limit of its movement and is adapted to be lowered through rotation of the shaft 34 in one direction. Such rotation tensions the spring 89 so that when the gear 36 is disengaged from gear 35', the tension of the spring will impart retrograde rotation to shaft 34 and restore said brush A to its normal or elevated position.

The various parts of the machine are adapted to be made from any suitable material and with the'exception of the sheet 31 and gaskets 72, pipe 8O and branches 79, they are made preferably of metal. If desired, the plate 10, plate 15plate 19, standard 31, cross head 32 and rod 62 maybe made of aluminum so as to give an extremely light weight machine.

The used water will .drain from the window pane into a suitable tank kor receptacle supported on base 19 by brackets 91. Said receptacle is open at the top and has an upwardly extending inclined guide ange 92 provided with a squeegee strip of leather or rubber at its free upper edge as at 93 to contact with the window pane at the lowest point permitted by its frame.

In the operation of cleaning a window having sliding sashes, the upper sash in its lowered position vis preferably washed rst by the brush A after which it is elevated to its utile position and the lower sash washed by such brush.

In operation with the plate 10 fastened to a window-sill by the screws 13 and levelled by the screws 14, the position of the parts longitudinally of the sill is obtained by manipulating the knob `3() which through the engagement of gear wheels 27 with the rack 26 causes movement of the carriage 13 longitudinally of the sill. Thereafter the lever 51 is grasped by the operator standing in front of the machine and pulled away from him which will cause the gear 36 to mesh with the gear 35 and the'vanes 82 to intimately engage the window panel. `While such lever 5l is so held, the crank 38 may be manipulated so as to turn shaft 37 and through the medium of gears 35 and 36 rotate the shaft 34, causing the same by means of its threaded engagement with nut 61 to lower the brush A. When it is desired to elevate the brush A, lever 51 is moved in the reverse direction which disengages gear wheels 35 and 36 so that the spring 89 which has been tensioned by the downward movement of the brush will expend its energy and reversely rotate the shaft 34, thereby through the medium of the screw threads of the shaft 34 and nut 61, restoring the brush to initial or elevated position. As the sliding movement of the gear 36 on shaft 37 is limited by the pin 55, it will be seen that after the gear 36 is disengaged from gear 35', that movement of the lever 51 will move those parts of the apparatus disposed on the attaching plate 10 in a direction transverse-- ly of the window sill. I/Vith the valve 88 open, it will be seen that water or washing fiuid will flow from the tank 84 through the pipes 8O and 79, nipples 71, gaskets 72, openings 75, reservoirs 66, ports 68 and 33, on to the vanes and the window panel so that such liquid will cleanse the panel as the brush is moved thereover in the manner previously described. The brush 65 may be readily removed by retracting the nipples 71 and when replaced will be held against accidental detachment by the extension of the gaskets 72 into the seats 63 under urgency of springs 76. The used water will drain from the window pane on to the squeegee strip 93, flange 92 and into receptacle 90 and from the same through pipe 94 to the point of disposal.

As merely one operative embodiment has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various changes in t-he details, combinations and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. A window washing machine having a bed plate, rails extending upwardly from said bed plate, said bed plate Ibeing thickened inwardly and adjacent the bases of said rails and provided with rack teeth, said rails having grooves above said teeth facing each other, a brush-carriage slidable on the bed plate above said teeth and intermediate said rails, studs on the carriage extending into said grooves, a shaft ournaled on the carriage, and a gear wheel on said shaft in mesh with said teeth.

2. A window washingl machine having a bed plate, rails extending upwardly from said bed plate, said bed plate being thickened inwardly and adjacent the bases of said rails and provided with rack teeth, each of said rails on its inner side having a groove extending substantially throughout its length, a brush-carriage slidable on the bed plate intermediate said rails, studs on the carriage extending into said grooves, a shaft journaled on the carriage, a gear wheel on said shaft in mesh with said teeth, an attaching plate on which said bed plate is slidably mounted, said vattaching plate having dove tailed ribs, and said bed plate having grooves corresponding in shape to and receiving said ribs.`

3. A window washing machine having a brush-carriage, an attaching base therefor, said carriage being slidable on said base, a lever pivoted to said base, and a connection between said lever and carriage to move the carriage transversely of the base through manipulation of the lever. 'i

4. A window Washing machine having an attaching plate, a bed plate adjustable transversely thereof, a carriage adjustable longitudinally of the bed plate, a lever pivoted to the attaching plate, said lever having an elongated slot to compensate for variation in position of the carriage, and an operative connection to drive the carriage and bed plate through manipulation of the lever.

5. A window washing machine having an attaching plate member, a bed plate adjustable transversely thereof, a carriage adjustable longitudinally of the bed plate, a lever member pivoted to the attaching p-late member, one of said members having an elongated slot adjacent the pivot of the lever to compensate for variations in position of the carriage, and an operative connection to drive the carriage and bed plate through manipulation of the lever member.`

6. A window washing machine having a carriage, said carriage having a base and a `cross head, a brush actuating shaft journaled in said base and cross head, a gear wheel on said shaft, a driving gear wheel to mesh with said gear wheel and capable of movement out of mesh therewith, a

spring within said shaft connected to the shaft and a part relatively to which it moves whereby the spring will be tensioned through said rotation, and. said spring serving to impart retrograde rotation to the shaft upon the meshing of the gears.

7. A window washing machine having an kattaching means, a carriage movable thereon, a brush actuating shaft journaled on said carriage, a driving connection for said shaft, al lever pivoted to said attaching means, means of connection between said lever and said driving connection, and means to limit the extent of inutile movement of the driving connection under actuationof said lever whereby further movement of said lever will bodily move the carriage. l

8. A window vwashing, machine having an attaching plate, a bed plate slidable transversely thereof, a carriage on said bedplate, a brush-actuating shaft journaled on said carriage, a gear wheel to drive said shaft, an actuating shaft for the latter gear Wheel, means slidably mounting said gear wheel on the latter shaft, a stop for said means, a lever on said attaching plate, and an operative connection between said lever and said means.

9. A window washing machine having an attaching plate, a bed plate mounted to slide transversely thereof, a carriage mounted on said bed plate, a brush actuating shaftjournaled on said carriage, a gear wheel yon said shaft, an operating shaftA ournaled on said carriage, a gear Wheel slidable into and out `of mesh on the operating shaft relatively to the first 4gear wheel, thel second gear wheel having its hub extended and being splined tothe operating shaft, a collar swivel on said hub, a. stop for said hub on said operating shaft, a lever pivo-ted to said base plate, a lever pivoted to said carriage and to said collar, and a link connecting said lever.

l0. A window washing machine having an attaching plate, aj bed plate mounted to slide transverselyv thereof, a carriage mount'- ed on said bed plate, a brush actuatingshaft journaled on said carriage, a gear wheel'on said shaft, an operating shaft j ournaled on said carriage, a gear wheel slid-able on lthe operating shaft into and out of mesh relaof the carriage longitudinally of Ythe bed plate, said carriage having extensions, a shaft journaled in said extensions, gear wheels on the latter shaft, said bed plate having rack teeth'in mesh with said gear wheels, and an operating member on the last mentioned shaft. 'y i L 1l. In a windo-w washing machine khaving a rotary shaft, a bracket movable by said shaft, said bracket having an voffset wall provided with a dovetailed recess, a brush head having a .dovetailed projection removably disposed in said recess, and means to supply liquid to said brush through the bracket and including a yieldingly urged connection adapted to engage'the brush to prevent disengagement thereof from said bracket. f

l2. In a window washing machine, a bracket provided with a recess, a perforated brush having a projection slidably extending into said recess, means to supply liquid to the brush including an attaching nipple and means to normally vurge said nipple into the recess and into engagement ywith the brush to prevent accidental detachment of the latter.

13. In a window bracket provided with a groove, a perforated brush having a projection removably disposed in vsaid groove through sliding movement., means to supply liquid to the brush including 'an attaching nipple, a gasket on said nipple, said brush having a seat for said gasket, a tube mounting said nipple, said nipple and tube having flanges, and an expansive spring surrounding said nipple and 4abutting said flanges to normally urge the gasket to its seat. g

14. In a window 'washing machine, a bracket pro-vided with a groove, a perforated brush having a projection removably disposed in said groove through sliding movement, means to supply liquid to the brush washing machine, a

including an attaching nipple, a gasket on said nipple, said brush having a seat for said gasket, a tube mounting said nipple, said nipple and tube having anges, and an expansive spring surrounding said nipple and abutting said flanges to normally urge the gasket to its seat, said brush having a reservoir in communication With the nipple and seat, and the brush having a series of outlet 4openings leading from the reservoir. 10

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tvvo Witnesses.

WILLIAM A. PIERSON.

Witnesses:

EDWARD D. EDDY, MARY I. MORAN.` 

